Tightening body for gas dispensers

ABSTRACT

A gas dispenser used for filling gas lighters carries a tightening body enclosing a filling tube extending form the neck of the dispenser. The front end of the tightening body fits around the front end of the filling tube and is resiliently adjustable so as to enclose the filling opening of a gas lighter and be adaptable to various shapes of gas lighters. The rear end of the tightening body is adapted to fit upon the neck of the dispenser and has a lesser axial resiliency than the front end.

United States atent B jerregaard [54] TIGHTENING BODY FOR GAS DISPENSERS[72] Inventor: Poul Bjerregaard, 32 Neptunvej, Aarhus,

Denmark [22] Filed: Mar. 19, 1969 [21] Appl. No: 871,412

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 529,430,Feb. 23, 1966,

abandoned.

[52] U.S. Cl ..141/354 [51 J Int. Cl ..B65b 1/04 [58] Field ofSearch..222/3, 398, 394,402.l,402.24,

[56} References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,385,482 5/1968 Frangos..222/402.24 X 3,506,162 4/1970 Schwartzman ..222/5l8 X 1 Feb. 1,1972

2,364,400 12/1944 Stewart et al. ..226/1 16 2,500,404 3/1950 Donnelly..285/9 X 2,925,103 2/1960 Kerr et al.. ..l4l/349 3,131,733 5/1964Monahon.. .....l4l/349 3,160,183 12/1964 Franz ..l4l/29l PrimaryExaminer-Samuel F. Coleman Assistant ExaminerNorman L. Stack, .lr.Attorney-Craig, Antonelli & Hill 7 1 ABSTRACT 12 Claims, 9 DrawingFigures PATENTEU FEB 1 I972 a R a Fm M M 9. @w m W TIGHTENING BODY FORGAS DISPENSERS This application is a continuation of my U.S. applicationSer. No. 529,430, filed Feb. 23, I966, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to a tightening body for use on thefilling stud of gas dispensers for filling gas lighters and of the kindcomprising a tightening member having a front surface for tighteningagainst a ring formed area around the filling opening of the gas lighterand having a hole for being received axially slidably on said fillingstud adjacent the outer end thereof, and resilient means connected withand projecting from said tightening member oppositely said front surfacethereof, said resilient means having a holding portion spaced from saidtightening member and adapted to be held against substantiallynonslidable supporting means located adjacent the filling stud indistance from the outer end thereof.

For filling or refilling a gas lighter it is common practice to use agas dispenser having a valve stud that is pressed into a filling openingin the lighter. By this pressure an inlet valve in the lighter isopened, and simultaneously the valve stud will be pressed backrelatively to the gas dispenser container, whereby an outlet valve inthe dispenser is opened so as to allow liquid gas to flow from thedispenser to the gas reservoir in the lighter. These valves closeautomatically when the dispenser is removed from the lighter.

Hitherto, there has been considerable difficulties in designing a gasdispenser for use in connection with all or most of the many differentlighter types available on the market, because the necessary injectiondepth for the filling stud varies considerably from type to type.Therefore, the tightening means used must be able to assume manydifferent positions along the filling stud, and with the use of a solidtightening body of resilient material such as known in the prior art ithas not been possible to obtain a sufficient resiliency in order to makea gas dispenser fitted with such a tightening body applicable forfilling gas lighters of all the different types.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a tightening body ofthe kind referred to which will enable one gas dispenser to be used forfilling practically every existing type of gas lighter due to aconsiderable improvement in the resilient movability of the tighteningmember relatively to said holding portion of the tightening body.According to the invention the said resilient means comprise resilientlybendable portions having a such inclined or curved configuration whenseen in axial direction at least after initial movement of saidtightening member towards the holding portion that further movement ofthe tightening member towards the holding portion causes an increase inthe bending stress in said bendable portions without causing substantialaxial compression of the resilient material. Hereby the tighteningmember may be moved over a relatively long distance being influenced bypressing force.

In the following the invention will be described with reference to theaccompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. I is a side view partly in section of the top portion of a gasdispenser fitted with a tightening body according to a first embodimentof the invention,

FIGS. 2-4 are corresponding views illustrating the deformation of thetightening body shown in FIG. 1 in three stages during its movement whenused for filling a certain type of gas lighter,

FIGS. 5 and 6 are corresponding views of the tightening body used by thefilling of another type ofgas lighter, and

FIGS. 7-9 are side views corresponding to FIG. 1 of three otherembodiments of the tightening body according to the invention. v

FIG. I shows the upper part ofa gas dispenser 2 containing liquid gasunder usual pressure conditions. In a neck portion 4 of the dispenser 2there is mounted an outlet valve (not shown) operable by depression of afilling valve stud 6 projecting upwardly from the neck portion. The gasin the dispenser can flow out through this stud 6 when the same isdepressed a short distance against the action of a valve spring such aswell known in the art.

Over the stud 6 there is placed a prolongation pipe having a lowersleeve portion 8, a cone formed intermediate portion I0 and an outerfilling pipe portion 12. This tube member consists of a relatively hardmaterial for example as known under the trade mark Delrin. Adjacent theouter end of the filling tube 12 there is provided one or more radialholes 14; these may also be provided as notches in the end surface ofthe filling pipe 12 as shown in FIG. 9.

The stud 6 and the tube member 8, l0, 12 are encircled by a tighteningbody 16 of resilient material such as rubber, this body having a lowerholding portion fitting tightly around the lower end 8 of theprolongation tube member and resting on the top surface of the neckportion 4. The tightening body I6 is provided with a preferablyegg-shaped cavity 18 behind or beneath its front end. This front end isdesignated with 20 and fits loosely around the filling pipe 12 so as tobe axially slidable thereon.

In order to fill a gas lighter the dispenser 2 is turned upside down asshown in FIG. 2 and placed in alignment with the filling opening 26 of agas lighter 24. The gas lighter 24 has a valve pin 28 adapted to thepressed downwardly for opening an inlet valve to the gas reservoir ofthe lighter. Such filling valves of the lighters are well known to thoseskilled in the art, and should, therefore, require no detaileddescription. The valve pin 28 may be provided with a pointed projection30 located centrally for use as a center means for the outlet tube ofthe gas dispenser. When the dispenser is placed in the position shownthe front end 20 thereof will be rested against the annular edge portionaround the filling opening 26.

Hereafter the dispenser is pressed downwardly to the position shown inFIG. 3, in which the outer end of the filling pipe 12 contacts the valvepin 28. During this movement the end portion 20 of the tightening member16 will be deformed and pressed against the wall of the filling pipe 12whilst at the same time the wall of the cavity 18 is bent resilientlyoutwardly. Thereafter the dispenser 2 is pressed further downwardly tothe position shown in FIG. 4. This movement should be made withsufficient force to overcome the opening resistance of the outlet valvein the dispenser as well as the inlet valve in the lighter. It appearsfrom FIG. 4 that in this position the filling stud 6 has been pressedsomewhat into the dispenser neck 4 while the valve pin 28 has beenpressed downwardly in the lighter. By the movement to this position thetightening member constituted by the front portion 20 of the body 16 ispressed further backwardly on the filling pipe 12 without requiring anyextra heavy pressure due to the presence of the cavity 18. Thus, thetightening member 20 will provide an effective seal at the top of thefilling opening 26 so that gas cannot escape therefrom during thefilling operation.

The pointed projection 30 may close the outlet opening of the fillingtube 12, but in this case the gas can leave the filling pipe through theradial channels 14.

When the lighter has been filled, the dispenser 2 is removed therefromwhereby the movements of the various parts will be repeated in oppositeorder relatively to those described above.

In the embodiment of the lighter shown in FIGS. 2-4 the injection depthof the filling pipe 12 is relatively big. In the embodiment of thelighter shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 this depth is very small since the valvepin, here designated with 34, has its outer end situated almost in levelwith the outer surface of the lighter, where it is encircled by aringformed rib 32. Since the outer end of the filling pipe 12 by theembodiment shown in projecting slightly beyond the front end 20 of thetightening body 16 it is easy to make sure that the filling pipe mouthis positioned correctly on the valve pin 34 so that this pin maythereafter be readily pressed down to the position shown in FIG. 6. Thevalves are not opened until after a certain displacement of the members12 and 34 so that the front end of the tightening member will be pressedfirmly against the ring rib 32 before the valves are opened. During thefilling operation the entire front portion of the tightening member ispressed against the lighter so that also in this case a good tighteningeffect is obtained (FIG. 6).

Certain types of lighters require a relatively high valveopeningpressure that must be transmitted through the prolongation member 8, 10,14. In the prior art it was found necessary to use a metallic outlettubing on the gas dispenser in order to have this relatively highpressure transmitted without the risque of breaking the outlet tube. Thefilling pipe E2 of Delrin or corresponding artificial material as usedwith the invention is in fact breakable or bendable, but its strengthand dimensions are so chosen that it is able to transfer the highestnecessary pressing force but not substantially greater forces withoutbreaking. Hereby it is ensured that the inlet valve of the lightercannot be damaged by any excessive pressing force.

The material distribution in the tightening body 16 is chosen in such amanner that a sufficient tightening pressure against the edge of thefilling opening is obtained already by the initial pressing thereagainstprior to any regular deformation of the tightening body, correspondingto the situation shown in FIG. 2. This pressure is built upsubstantially by a pure axial compression of the material in thetightening body. As the pressure is thereafter increased, the ringformedwall portion around the cavity 18 will be bent outwardly, but the extrapressing force necessary for this purpose is not very big so that thetightening or sealing pressure will not be considerably increased untilthe cavity 18 is completely pressed together. lt will be appreciated,however, that the filling pipe 12 may project a long distance beyond thetightening member before the cavity 18 is pressed together (FIG. 4).

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 the tightening body is shaped as a cap36, and the resilient means between the neck of the dispenser and thefront end of the tightening body are constituted by a cone formedhelical spring 38. Due to the cone form the spring may be pressed downto plane configuration so that the tightening member can carry outsubstantial axial movement on the outlet tube from the dispenser.

The prolongation tubing 8 shown in FIG. 8 is provided with a bottomflange 40 serving as a supporting means for the holding portion of thetightening body, whereby the front end of the tightening body will besituated close to the mouth of the filling pipe 12 irrespectively ofthelength of the valve stud 6.

In FIG. 9 it is shown that the tightening body 16 may be placed directlyon the outlet valve stud which is here shown somewhat enlarged anddesignated 42; as by the other embodiment it is not necessary that thetightening body 16 is mounted in touch with the neck portion 4 of thedispenser 2 because it will be pressed back such a supported position assoon as it is pressed against the filling opening of a lighter.

For the inventive idea it is without importance whether the front end ofthe tightening body is situated behind or beyond the outer end of thefilling pipe 12 in the free or initial condition thereof.

What I claim is:

l. A tightening body for mounting on the filling and dispensing tube ofa gas dispenser, the dispensing tube being an axially movable biasedvalve-actuated tube adapted to permit the passage of gas through theinterior thereof, wherein the tightening body has a central passagereceiving the dispensing tube, an outwardly tapered front end positionedaround the outer end of the dispensing tube, slidable therealong and incontinuous contact therewith, and intermediate resilient means extendingrearwardly from the front end and having resiliently bendable materialportions leaving an annular free space behind the front end and operableto be bent out from the axial direction in response to axial compressionof the intermediate resilient means, and the intermediate resilientmeans having an abutment portion at the end thereof opposite the frontend, the gas dispenser having rigid supporting means at a distance fromthe outer end of the dispensing tube, with the abutment portion beingadapted to rest axially against the supporting means.

2. A tightening body as claimed in claim 1, wherein the intermediateresilient means are constituted by a resilient bushing being bellowlikedeformable by axial compression.

3. A tightening body as claimed in claim 2, wherein the intermediateresilient means have a curved configuration in the initial conditionthereof.

4. A tightening body as claimed in claim 3, in which the bushing and thetightening body is constituted by integral parts of a hollow resilientbody provided with diametrically opposite holes for said valve stud.

5. A tightening body as claimed in claim 1, in which said resilientmeans are constituted by a helical spring.

6. A tightening body for mounting on the filling and dispensing tube ofa gas dispenser for filling gas lighters, wherein the dispensing tube isan axially movable, biased valve-actuated tube adapted to permit thepassage of gas through the interior thereof, comprising three integralportions, a first front portion consisting of a sealing member ofresilient material having a front end and a rear end and a centralthrough-passage receiving the dispensing tube, with the front end beingoutwardly tapered and positioned around the outer end of the dispensingtube and slidable therealong, said front end remaining in continuouscontact with said dispensing tube, a second portion having one endconnected to the rear end of the first portion and consisting ofresiliently bendable material arranged to only partially fill out thespace behind the rear end of the first portion, the bendable materialhaving a configuration providing for the bending thereof in response toaxial compression of the front end of the first portion towards thesecond portion, the gas dispenser having rigid supporting means atdistance from the outer end of the dispensing tube, and a third portionconsisting of engagement means for being firmly rested against thesupporting means.

7. A tightening body as claimed in claim 6, wherein said dispensing tubeis a prolongation of and receivable on a filling stud of said gasdispenser and wherein said dispensing tube is a pipe bushing of Delrin.

8. A tightening body as claimed in claim 7, in which a radial passage isprovided in the wall of said dispensing tube.

9. A tightening body according to claim 6, wherein the front portion isaxially shorter than the third portion and is thicker than the secondportion.

10. A tightening body in combination with a gas dispenser for gaslighters, the gas dispenser having a neck with a rigid surface, anaxially movable, biased valve-actuated dispensing tube extendingoutwardly from the rigid surface terminating in a dispensing end andadapted to permit the passage of gas through the interior thereof, and arigid supporting means at a distance from the dispensing end, whereinthe tightening body has a central passage enclosing the dispensing tubeand comprising a front outwardly tapering tightening portion surroundingand continuously contacting the dispensing end and having substantialaxial and transverse resiliency, and a rear holding portion of lesserresiliency and adapted to be pressed axially tightly against thesupporting means during dispensing.

11. A tightening body in combination with a gas dispenser according toclaim 10, wherein the dispensing tube has an annular flange constitutingthe supporting means.

12. A tightening body for mounting on the filling and dispensing tube ofa gas dispenser for filling gas lighters, wherein the dispensing tube isan axially movable, biased valve-actuated tube adapted to permit thepassage of gas through the interior thereof, comprising three integralportions, a first front portion consisting of a sealing member ofresilient material having a front end and a rear end and a centralthrough-passage receiving the dispensing tube, with the front end beingoutwardly tapered and positioned around the outer end of the dispensingtube and slidable therealong, said front end remaining in continuouscontact with said dispensing tube, a second portion having one endconnected to the rear end of the first portion and consisting ofresiliently bendable material arranged to only partially fill out thespace behind the rear end of the first portion, the bendable materialhaving a configuration providing for the bending thereof in response toaxial compression of the front end of the first portion towards thesecond portion, the gas dispenser having rigid mediate portion ofdecreasing diameter against which said tightening body front portion isengageable to actuate said valve, a coaxial outer filling pipe portionprojecting through said front portion opening and about which isslidingly received said front portion.

1. A tightening body for mounting on the filling and dispensing tube ofa gas dispenser, the dispensing tube being an axially movable biasedvalve-actuated tube adapted to permit the passage of gas through theinterior thereof, wherein the tightening body has a central passagereceiving the dispensing tube, an outwardly tapered front end positionedaround the outer end of the dispensing tube, slidable therealong and incontinuous contact therewith, and intermediate resilient means extendingrearwardly from the front end and having resiliently bendable materialportions leaving an annular free space behind the front end and operableto be bent out from the axial direction in response to axial compressionof the intermediate resilient means, and the intermediate resilientmeans having an abutment portion at the end thereof opposite the frontend, the gas dispenser having rigid supporting means at a distance fromthe outer end of the dispensing tube, with the abutment portion beingadapted to rest axially against the supporting means.
 2. A tighteningbody as claimed in claim 1, wherein the intermediate resilient means areconstituted by a resilient bushing being bellowlike deformable by axialcompression.
 3. A tightening body as claimed in claim 2, wherein theintermediate resilient means have a curved configuration in the initialcondition thereof.
 4. A tightening body as claimed in claim 3, in whichthe bushing and the tightening body is constituted by integral parts ofa hollow resilient body provided with diametrically opposite holes forsaid valve stud.
 5. A tightening body as claimed in claim 1, in whichsaid resilient means are constituted by a helical spring.
 6. Atightening body for mounting on the filling and dispensing tube of a gasdispenser for filling gas lighters, wherein the dispensing tube is anaxially movable, biased valve-actuated tube adapted to permit thepassage of gas through the interior thereof, comprising three integralportions, a first front portion consisting of a sealing member ofresilient material having a front end and a rear end and a centralthrough-passage receiving the dispensing tube, with the front end beingoutwardly tapered and positioned around the outer end of the dispensingtube and slidable therealong, said front end remaining in continuouscontact with said dispensing tube, a second portion having one endconnected to the rear end of the first portion and consisting ofresiliently bendable material arranged to only partially fill out thespace behind the rear end of the first portion, the bendable materialhaving a configuration providing for the bending thereof in response toaxial compression of the front end of the first portion towards thesecond portion, the gas dispenser having rigid supporting means atdistance from the outer end of the dispensing tube, and a third portionconsisting of engagement means for being firmly rested against thesupporting means.
 7. A tightening body as claimed in claim 6, whereinsaid dispensing tube is a prolongation of and receivable on a fillingstud of said gas dispenser and wherein said dispensing tube is a pipebushing of Delrin.
 8. A tightening body as claImed in claim 7, in whicha radial passage is provided in the wall of said dispensing tube.
 9. Atightening body according to claim 6, wherein the front portion isaxially shorter than the third portion and is thicker than the secondportion.
 10. A tightening body in combination with a gas dispenser forgas lighters, the gas dispenser having a neck with a rigid surface, anaxially movable, biased valve-actuated dispensing tube extendingoutwardly from the rigid surface terminating in a dispensing end andadapted to permit the passage of gas through the interior thereof, and arigid supporting means at a distance from the dispensing end, whereinthe tightening body has a central passage enclosing the dispensing tubeand comprising a front outwardly tapering tightening portion surroundingand continuously contacting the dispensing end and having substantialaxial and transverse resiliency, and a rear holding portion of lesserresiliency and adapted to be pressed axially tightly against thesupporting means during dispensing.
 11. A tightening body in combinationwith a gas dispenser according to claim 10, wherein the dispensing tubehas an annular flange constituting the supporting means.
 12. Atightening body for mounting on the filling and dispensing tube of a gasdispenser for filling gas lighters, wherein the dispensing tube is anaxially movable, biased valve-actuated tube adapted to permit thepassage of gas through the interior thereof, comprising three integralportions, a first front portion consisting of a sealing member ofresilient material having a front end and a rear end and a centralthrough-passage receiving the dispensing tube, with the front end beingoutwardly tapered and positioned around the outer end of the dispensingtube and slidable therealong, said front end remaining in continuouscontact with said dispensing tube, a second portion having one endconnected to the rear end of the first portion and consisting ofresiliently bendable material arranged to only partially fill out thespace behind the rear end of the first portion, the bendable materialhaving a configuration providing for the bending thereof in response toaxial compression of the front end of the first portion towards thesecond portion, the gas dispenser having rigid supporting means at adistance from the outer end of the dispensing tube, and a third portionconsisting of engagement means for being firmly rested against thesupporting means, said tube comprising prolongation of the outletpassage of a valve stud receivable within said third portion opening,and formed as a lower stud-engaging cylindrical portion, an intermediateportion of decreasing diameter against which said tightening body frontportion is engageable to actuate said valve, a coaxial outer fillingpipe portion projecting through said front portion opening and aboutwhich is slidingly received said front portion.